{Kerai's P.O.V}
The sound of hooves clopping on the ground had been replaced with the quieter footsteps of people. A pair of strong arms were under my legs and around my back, basically someone was carrying me. I thought it was Erwin so a lightly gripped his shirt, he chuckled lightly. The pitch was off though, it wasn't Erwin's voice. I forced my eyes to flutter open enough to see who it was. It was dark, but I could tell we were back at H.Q. I squinted in the dark struggling to see who was holding me, it was Levi. He looked down at me and smiled so I forced myself to smile back.
"Glad to see you're awake-ish." He whispered.
"How did the rest of the mission go?" I asked in a hushed tone.
"Shh, don't worry yourself with that now. We'll get you up to date in the morning, till then you are to rest." He hushed me and opened the door to my room.
Levi walked over to my bed and gently laid me down on the right side. He grabbed the black fleece blanket from the foot of my bed and tossed it on me. I moved it so that it covered me and smiled again at Levi. He smiled back and his grey eyes looked warm for once. He placed a hand on my head and left the room. I turned myself over onto my right side and curled myself into a ball and fell back to a state of unconsciousness and waited for the morning sun to tell me to get up.
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{Levi's P.O.V}
After yesterday's 'expedition' everyone woke up late. By the time most of the leaders were up it was ten thirty in the morning. We all sat at the normal table and observed the cadets chatting, they seemed pretty excited to have survived their 'first expedition'. There were the few who were with Kerai and I who were still scared shitless. Hm, come to think of it, where is she. Normally she's first out, then again I did tell her to rest. I sipped at my coffee and reviewed the plan for the actual expedition that Erwin gave to me.
"Is Kerai alright?" Hanji asked once she finished her meal.
"Yeah, Levi is she?" Mike asked.
"Tch, how the fuck should I know?" I sipped my coffee.
"We saw you carrying her when we got back. Is she okay or did she just fall asleep on the way back?"
I swallowed hard and felt my face heat up slightly. Her sleeping face from last night filled my mind. Sniffer and Shit-glasses took notice and started to laugh like children. I gave them a death glare and they shut up immediately. Erwin looked up from his papers and looked at us.
"Is she alright?" He asked, raising one of those big ass eyebrows.
"Tch, yeah. She's just asleep." I told him.
Not too long afterwards the sound of light footsteps sounded from down the hall. I looked up to see Kerai walking into the mess hall. I felt the corners of my mouth turn up into a smile seeing that she was at least up to walking already. Of course there was a slight limp in her walk but otherwise looked fine. She walked over to the stove area and began to brew her normal morning tea. Once she got her tea she came over and sat down next to me. She smiled and sipped her tea and I returned the smile.
"Ooh, look at you two getting along. It's so cute, like kids in love." Shit-glasses cooed.
"I'm not a fucking kid and I'm not in love." We snapped at the same time.
"Oh sure you aren't. I can smell it from over here." Sniffer plugged his nose as if he actually smelt something.
"Want me to fix it so you can't smell anything Sniffer?" I seethed.
He went quiet and focused on his drink. I could see Kerai glaring at Shit-glasses and she looked terrified. I chuckled and sipped my coffee. It brought me great joy to see her cowering.
"Well, it's nice to see you two getting along and not trying to kill each other." Erwin said.
"I guess it's nice not trying to kill someone." Kerai said sarcastically.
"Who says we aren't still trying to kill each other?" I asked.
Kerai snickered and Eyebrows sighed in frustration. Honestly I did enjoy not having to be prepared to defend myself from that tiny terror. Some of the cadets were watching us, as if they were waiting for another fight to break out.
"Hey, Brats. If you're done with your meal then get to training." I snapped.
They all got up and left, I smirked at how easy they were to scare. Soon enough Sniffer and Shit-glasses left to train and were followed by Erwin ten minutes afterwards. A few minutes later Kerai got up to leave.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"To train with the others." She replied.
"Wrong. You need to rest and heal, which means no training." I said and rinsed my cup.
"I'll be fine." She tried to play off as if she didn't have that gash in her side.
"Tch. It's an order from Erwin, you are to rest." I enforced.
"Hn, whatever. I'll be in my office then." She turned, waved and went over to her office.
So stubborn. Somehow she's going to find someway to train. I guess I can check on her later to see how she's doing. Wait, what the hell am I thinking?! The brat knows when to stay put, so why if the hell am I worrying?
I walked out to the training yard and did my normal rounds of correcting the brats on their shitty techniques. Shit-glasses, Sniffer, Eyebrows and I headed over to the 'titan' area. From there we practiced our formation, execution and our own techniques for taking down those filthy shits. This lasted for an hour or so before we stopped for a break. Honestly, I was sore from yesterdays expedition so I wasn't at my top game. To think we have to do the same thing again in a month. I rolled my eyes at the thought of it and left the training grounds. I made my way back to H.Q. and into Kerai's office. She didn't seem to notice my presence so I just sat down on the couch that was in there. Her violet eyes were scrunched in what looked like frustration. Whatever it was she was reading, she wasn't happy about it.
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{Kerai's P.O.V}
I must have read this damned letter about ten times now and each time I found myself somehow angry with it. The letter was a reminder that the Yana family ball was in a month and a half. A useless party with what little family I have left and family friends that I don't even remember. Though I couldn't truly complain, I haven't gone the past six years. Kohaku and grandfather must be worried about me, but I do write to them frequently. I finally got irritated enough to shove the letter back into its envelope and off my desk. I looked around my room and found a certain raven haired man sitting on my couch.
"Oi, Levi. Where the hell did you come from?" I asked.
"The training grounds." He replied.
I got up from my desk and sat next to him on the couch. There was a cushion space between us. I felt awkward around him after last night, just thinking about it made my face heat up. I turned my head away till the heat went away.
"Did you need something?" I asked, still not looking at him.
"Not really, just making sure you aren't pushing yourself." He shrugged.
"Is Erwin making you?" I turned to look at him.
"Yeah." He shrugged.
Somehow his answer was a little of a let down. Then again what more could I expect from him? I let out a sigh and went back over to my desk to reorganize the small mess I had created going through my mail and papers. I found myself glancing at Levi and occasionally seeing him taking a glance at me. I came across the letter again and shoved it in a drawer, I'll come back to it after the expedition and let Erwin know. After a half hour of some chit-chatting Levi left and went to do who knows what.
Eventually the sun began to set and I left my office for dinner. At the table everyone was laughing, smiling, joking as if we were one family. I realized that until I had joined the Survey Corps, I never really had that feeling of being with a family. When they were alive mom and dad were always away because of work and grandfather was simply too old to keep up with a child. Kanako was a mother figure to me in some ways and a best friend in another. Kohaku well, he was himself, he was mature somewhat distant, but there when you needed him. After Kana passed, he began to lean on me more, and I allowed him to. I didn't want him to worry about me so I became his rock even though I was slowly eroding away. Not even Erwin knew that I would eventually crack, just in the time I've known Levi though, it's become more apparent. I don't know how and I don't know why but I feel safe around him, I feel as if I could tell him everything though I wont. He's confusing, annoying, a little narcissistic, a pain in the ass, cold, distant yet...it draws me near.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~( TimeღSkip)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The expedition went extremely well, only ten soldiers died this time. That was about maybe a fourth of our normal casualties. This meant that the trial was a good thing to put them through or this group was just really lucky. Either way, it was enough cause for most to celebrate. Of course while the cadets were celebrating us squad captain, corporals and our commander were stuck in our offices filling out our reports. Honestly though, I'd rather do paperwork than celebrate anything. I had just finished refining my report when there was a light knock on my door. I opened it to find Mike standing there smiling.
"Hey Mike, what's up?" I asked leaning on the door.
"Nothing much, just came to tell you lunch is ready." He smiled and grabbed my arm to drag me to the table.
I allowed him to lead me to the table but from there I went and got myself a salad from the kitchen. When I returned I was greeted by Hanji and Erwin, Levi was just sipping his coffee completely oblivious to the world around him. I rolled my eyes and sat down next to him and Mike. After a few minutes of nothing from Levi, I decided to break his trance.
"Yo, earth to Levi." I said and waved my right hand in front of his face.
"What do you want brat?"Levi chuckled playfully.
In the past month or so, we have become practically best friends. We'd laugh, chat, do paperwork and train together. It was as if we've known each other since we were kids or something. Brat no longer was an insult when he used it against me, and neither was prick when I used it on him. Those nicknames were just our way of being playful.
"Nothing, prick. Just bringing you back to reality." I rolled my eyes and smirked.
"Who says I ever left reality?" He countered.
"You were staring off into nowhere and you didn't notice when I got here." I said.
"When did you get here?" He asked sarcastically.
"Very funny, Levi." I pushed his arm and went back to eating.
"Since when did you two become friends?" Mike asked.
We looked to each other, shrugged and went back to eating. Between the two of us, we couldn't really tell when we became friends. It seems like one day I wanted him dead and the next he was my long lost best friend or something. He didn't seem as bad now and maybe I wasn't so much of a kid now. Come to think of it, ever since we became friends I've been smiling a lot more often and laughing wholeheartedly. Erwin's taken notice but has said anything about it. Which reminds me, the letter. I pulled the letter out of my inside jacket pocket and read it over again, the same frustration filling me as before.
"Hey earth to Kerai." Levi waved his hand in my face mocking my tone from before.
"Hm?" I looked up from the letter.
"What's in that letter that gets you so mad?" He asked.
"Oh, it just a stupid party I have to attend." I grumbled. "You have to go this time too, Erwin."
"Of course, when is it?" He asked from behind his papers.
"Two days from today, at eight sharp." I said and tossed the letter to him to read.
"Why are you so against this party?" Levi asked, trying to see from my angle.
"I've never been one for parties. Plus, I never fit in there, they always talk politics or some other thing I don't care or know about. It's a waste of my time." I explained and blew my bangs back into place.
"In other words you're a stick in the mud." Mike teased.
"Shut it, Mike. I just don't like parties, doesn't mean I'm a stick in the mud." I said and sipped my tea.
They started to laugh and I rolled my eyes. And they say I'm a child. I thought and sighed. I was going to lose a week of training and paperwork for what? An hour or two of music and dancing, which I can't even do. Well, I can't ballroom dance but other dancing was fine. I could bring someone with me, but no one here could really be trusted to not draw a crowd within Mitras.
"So where does the famous Yana ball take place?" Hanji asked.
"My home in Mitras." I said with a bored tone.
"Wait, you live within Wall Sina and the innermost city?" Mike asked and I nodded yes. "Then how come you left there for Trost in wall Rose?" He sounded intrigued.
"Because this is where the Survey Corps. is located." I answered on the verge of snapping.
The other three laughed and I let out a light giggle. Honestly Mike could be quite the moron when he puts his mind to it. I looked over to Levi, who looked disgusted by the mention of wall Sina much less Mitras the inner city. Suddenly I got a devilish idea in my mind, why not bring Levi with me. He was my best friend and plus I don't need the people at that ball freaked out by Hanji's affection for titans or Mike sniffing them. Erwin looked at me and let me know he knew what I was thinking of.
"Hey Levi you want to go with us?" I asked giving him my pouty, please- say- yes face.
He looked like he was about to say no, so I moved closer and he gave a sigh of defeat. "I guess." He muttered.
I cheered in my mind and hugged him. His face became bright red at my sudden embrace and admitablly so was mine. This was one of the few times we hugged and normally when we did no one else was around. I gave a victorious smile and skipped off to my office, leaving a stunned, well, everyone behind.
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{Levi's P.O.V}
I can't believe she used that look on me and I let it work. She knows my distaste for the walls, especially wall Sina yet she still asked and got me to agree.
I mentally face palmed at myself and watched a happy Kerai skip away like a child. Come to think of it, when she was happy she acted like a kid yet, she gets mad when you call her one. I wonder what that could be about. I sipped at my coffee letting my thoughts wonder.
"She's such a kid." I mumbled.
"Give her a break Levi. She didn't have much of a childhood so she acts somewhat childish now." Eyebrows said looking up from his papers.
"Why?" I cocked an eyebrow.
"Her family raised her to be mature from a young age. They had her learn all sorts of proper edicate and stuff so she never was allowed to be a kid." He explained. "Her sister was the same way and so is her brother."
"If she knows proper edicate how come she just walks into your office whenever she wants too?" Sniffer asked.
"It doesn't bother me, so I allow her." Eyebrows shrugged and left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~( TimeღSkip)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The two days passed by in what felt like two hours. It was now about seven fifty eight Eyebrows and I were standing outside waiting for Kerai to get out here. She was the one who reminded us last night to be up and ready by eight. Again the most frustrating girl ever. Just as the carriage arrived, Kerai finally joined us. We put our bags on the back and hopped into the carriage for the hour or so long drive. Eyebrows pulled out a book and started reading, Kerai looked out the window with a bored expression and I just leaned back and took a nap.
Someone moved my shoulder and I nudged them away. They nudged me again so I grabbed their arm and opened my eyes. It was just Kerai, she was surprisingly close. Close enough that our noses were touching. I pulled back and she pulled away, her pale face now had a cherry tint to it.
"W-we're here." She said and got out of the carriage.
I got out and stretched my arms and legs. We grabbed our stuff and walked up a cobble path for a few minutes. From behind a large fern a huge white building appeared. It was a practical rich person mansion. It had a red tile roof and a fountain before you reached the walk way to the door and a lush green yard. It looked as if it was able to hold an entire city within it. A waste of space for a family of four, even eight was still too little. Everything looked plush and breakable, no wonder the kids were taught proper edicate instead of being let run wild around this place.
Once we finally reached the front door we were greated by a young male. He looked to be about 178 cm( 5'8''), shaggy brown hair that faded white at the tips, about the same skin tone as Kerai maybe a shade or two darker, turquoise eyes and a muscular build. He smiled at Eyebrows and Kerai jumped and hugged him in a bear hug. My eye twitched a little when he wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Ohayo, Kohaku." She smiled.
"Ohayo Rai-san, Genki desu ka?" I assumed he asked her something.
"Kanari yoi, to anata wa?"
"Yoi,node, anata no yūjin wa dare desu ka?" He pointed over at me and I glared at him.
"Ā, soreha Levi. Kare wa watashi no chīmu to watashi no shin'yū no ichibu desu."
I looked to Eyebrows in hopes he had some damn idea of what the hell they are saying but he looked just as lost as I was. The guy talking gibberish to Kerai looked at me and I glared, then he looked back to Kerai.
"Kare wa nihongo o hanashite imasu ka?" He jabbered.
"No, he speaks English." She finally said something I could understand.
"Ah, well then it wouldn't be polite to continue talking like that then. I apologize for that. My name is Kohaku, it's a pleasure to meet you Corporal Levi." Kohaku placed his hand out for me to shake it.
"Nice to meet you too." I tried to be polite and shook his hand.
"Welcome back Erwin, how are you?" He went over to Eyebrows and did some weird handshake.
"Very well, you?"
"Same as always." Kohaku turned around and motioned for us to follow him. "Welcome to the Yana family estate, please make yourselves at home. Kerai could you show them to their rooms."
"Hai, by the way. Where's grandfather?" Kerai asked tilting her head slightly to the left.
"In his study. I'll see you later." And with that the gibberish speaking guy left.
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{Kerai's P.O.V}
Kohaku walked off towards the library, leaving the three of us in the living room area. It was nice to see him again, he was still the same as when we last saw each other. The house was just as it was since I was a child. I turned around to Erwin and Levi still smiling.
"Come on, I'll show your room Levi. Erwin, you remember where your room is right?"
"Of course, you two have fun exploring." Erwin left, though his comment made it sound like we were children.
I rolled my eyes and grabbed Levi's wrist. "Come one Levi." I began to walk up the stairs with Levi being dragged behind me.
After we reached the top of the stairs I headed off to the left and down the hall. Each side had ten doors, twenty in total. Half were guest rooms, some were entertainment and the one at the end on the right was mine. The one across from mine was going to be Levi's, at least he shouldn't get lost. I opened the door to his room and walked in. The room was a pale grey with light furnishings. There was a king sized bed pressed in the center against the back east wall of the room and on either side was a small night stand. Across from the bed was a wardrobe, in the back right corner was a small reading area with two bookcases. To the left of the bed was a door that lead into the bathroom. The floor was a beautiful red rosewood and carpeting around the bed area. Old paintings were neatly dispersed along the wall to give the room a complete feeling. I looked to Levi who was in his own state of shock. I walked inside and pulled him with me, I noticed that my grip had fallen from his wrist to his hand though he hasn't noticed yet. I waved my free hand in front of his eyes.
"Earth to Levi, you there?" I asked.
"Who said I left this time?" He said after blinking a few times.
"So, what do you think about the room?" I smiled.
"It's...nice. Really big." He looked around the room again.
"I'll let you get settled. If you need me I'm in the room across from this one." I dropped his hand and walked over to my room.
My room was about the same size as Levi's, a simple twenty by twenty. The walls are a pale violet with a black trim on the base, windows and doorways. The floors were the same red rosewood though there wasn't carpet around the bed. The bed was placed up against the east wall in the center. It was a queen sized bed with victorian era lilac bedsheets. In the back left corner was my grand piano and on the wall closest to the door on the west wall was my reading area. The wardrobe was facing the bed and to the right of the bed was a door that led to my bathroom. I kept my walls plain for the most part, there were a few pictures of my family and the few friends I've made.
I walked over to my bed and flopped down on it. It was plush, like how some clouds look. I looked at my hand that had been holding Levi's felt cold, my heart felt as if it was twisting. I was getting attached to him, which was only going to end up hurting me. I groaned and threw my arms over my face in frustration. I knew I had fallen for the Underground thug, my co-captain, my best friend. In the Survey Corps. though, there is no time, no point into falling in love. Each day you risk losing that person and in the end you do. God, he is so damn confusing.
I laid there for an hour or so before I got up and went down to grandfather's study. He was sitting in his chair with the back of it facing the doorway where I now was standing. After a few minutes he turned the chair around and smiled at me. When he smiled, he made it looked as if he had more wrinkles than he truly did. His blue-green eyes squinted and were brought out by his now snow white hair. For a man of seventy nine, he appeared much older.
"Yūkoku, Kerai." He greeted.
"Guddo no yūkoku, Ojīsan." I smiled at him.
"Dono yō ni anata no ryokō wa koko ni ita?"
"Sore wa chōdo, nagai, daijōbudatta." I left out the fact that the trip was boring.
"Sore wa kiite yoi kotoda." He got up placed his book back in it's place.
It was the first time in years that I've truly conversed with grandfather, and yet I had no idea how to talk with him. He was so different from mother and father, he was more liberal, more open. It kind of scared me. I looked over to the hundreds of book he has collected over the years and started to think of something to talk about.
"Nani ka mondai wa arimasu ka, Kerai?" His voice caught me off guard.
"Y-yeah. Watashi wa imi hai." I corrected myself and lower my gaze.
"If you're more comfortable speaking English, then just say so." He chuckled.
I looked up back to him, when was the last time he spoke English? I was shocked to hear him speak English, though he speaks it fluently. Father had always forced me to speak Japanese to him, so I guess I've assumed he didn't find it respectful to talk to him like that.
"I-I thought I was only allowed to talk to you if I spoke Japanese." I glanced at him from the corner of my eye.
"No, no dear. You can speak to me in which ever one you feel most comfortable with. Why would you think such a ridiculous idea?" He asked and walked over to me.
"Well, father told me that-" I started to explain and he let out a chuckle.
"I think I know why your father would tell you that. His grandfather forced him to speak Japanese to him, and so did my grandfather. It's a family trait I suppose." He chuckled again, and I slightly smiled. "Now, why don't you tell me what's on your mind."
I sat down on the open chair and he took the one next to me. I had no idea how to say what was on mind. Normally I say the first thing that pops up but with this, I have no idea how to talk about it. I bit my inner lower lip and pondered over how to say what I wanted to. The more I thought about it, the more that weird feeling spread.
"Well, it's hard to explain." I admitted.
"Hm, try your best and I'll see if I can advise you." He gave an encouraging smile.
"For a couple of months now I keep getting this weird feeling. It's like...it's like..." I held my sides trying to find the words. "A cold chill enters my heart and twists around. My stomach twists up into knots, almost makes me feel sick."
"Haha, before I jump to a conclusion tell me. Does this feeling happen around anyone person?" He asked.
"Y-yeah...C-corporal...L-levi." I stuttered and my face was bright red.
"Ah, as I thought. You my darling little Rai, are feeling what it feels like to be in love." He smiled and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"I can't be. I can't be in love, I'm in the Survey Corps. We can't be in love nor do we have the time to be in love."
"Did that stop your sister? Love is up to the person no matter what the situation, no matter what they do." Grandfather smiled and moved closer to me.
"She was different." I pouted.
"And so are you. Kerai, I bet you'll be able to make this love work." He wrapped his arm around me in a hug.
"It doesn't matter how hard I try." I whispered.
"Oh, and how's that?"
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{Levi's P.O.V}
"Because, Levi would never love me back." Kerai said.
I had been walking by when I overheard her grandfather and her talking. I swallowed hard, a sudden twist entered my heart. I stayed in place for a few more minutes and then walked away. I couldn't help but think back to what I heard Kerai say, it somehow bothered me. I continued to explore the maze of a house, trying to find Eyebrows. After about ten minutes of exploring I finally came across him.
"Are you lost, Levi?" He asked.
"Tch, just exploring." I pushed it off.
"Exploring in the back end of the house, just admit you're lost." Eyebrows jared.
"Then what the hell are you doing back here?" I questioned.
"I was grabbing this box for Kohaku." He held up a small velvet like box. "Come on, I think supper is ready." He started walking away and I followed a few feet behind.
He lead us to a dining area where Kohaku, his grandfather and a young female. I looked around the room for Kerai and found her standing in the doorway from the living room. She had a somewhat sad and confused look on her face. I looked at her till her eyes meet mine, but when they did it only lasted for a few seconds. The girl from before walked over to her and dragged her over to the table. Once we were all seated, we began to eat. I got lost in a conversation with her grandfather, Eyebrows and Kohaku. Every now and then I'd steal a glance at Kerai, but she was never looking towards me.
"So Erwin, I heard you recently became a commander. How's that going for you?" The girl asked.
"Pretty well, I heard you also got a promotion Milaya. How's that for you?" So the girls name was Milaya.
"Boring, but it's something to do." Milaya shrugged and turned to Kerai. "But what isn't boring is what you do Kerai. How was your last expedition?"
"It was okay, less casualties than normal." Kerai said in a voice just above a whisper.
"Really? How?" Milaya leaned closer to her with interest.
"I don't know, we had a trial run for the new recruits so that could have helped or maybe they just got lucky this time." Kerai shrugged and placed her chin in her hand.
"Kei, act as if you have manners at the table." Kohaku said from across the table.
"Hn." She didn't seem to notice or care.
"Oi, Kei-san."
"Leave her be Kohaku, she's a little distracted right now." Her grandfather said and finished his meal. "How about we get your mind off of that Kerai."
"How so?" She asked monotonous.
"Why don't you play for us." He suggested.
A slight sparkle came to her eyes and a smile played at the edge of her lips. Everyone else also seemed to perk up at that suggestion, yet I have no idea what he means. An instrument perhaps?
"Alright." She shrugged.
"Awesome, I haven't heard you play in ages Kei." Milaya encouraged.
"You mean since the last time we saw each other." Kerai rolled her eyes.
The rest of the meal was filled with conversation about what she would play. From the names suggested it was definitely an instrument or singing, but Kerai doesn't look like the singing type. Kerai and her brother finished a few minutes before the rest of us and disappeared. Once we were all done, her grandfather filed us into the ballroom. In there a grand piano was set up and Kohaku was standing there while Kerai sat on the bench. We took a seat on the chairs set up. When we were settled, Kohaku joined us leaving Kerai at the piano. It was quiet for a few minutes before the sound of the piano began to fill the room. I sat in awe at the melody, it was unlike anything else I have heard. (Song Kerai Play's 'Kiss the Rain') I closed my eyes and listened closely to the rhythm, I felt myself relaxing and slightly moving with the song. When the song ended, everyone said goodnight and headed for bed. I waited for Kerai to put away the piano and followed her till I got to my room.
"Kerai." I started once we reached our rooms.
"Yeah?"
"I, um.." I tried to find a way to say what I wanted to.
"What is it Levi." A small sparkle entered her eyes.
"I, um...goodnight." I said and looked away from her.
"Oh, goodnight Levi." I could hear the sadness in her tone and it made me feel bad, still I went in my room and got ready for bed.
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{Kerai's P.O.V}
Sleep evaded me, yet again. When I 'woke up' I put on(outfit ),headed down to the ballroom and started to finish the decorations for the ball. As time passed, the others came and helped. Kohaku and his friends finished moving in the tables and chairs. Milaya and I worked on recipes for the food. Erwin and Levi were doing...well they were helping out when asked. We worked from dawn till four in the evening, and everything was ready. Throughout the day, I found myself thinking back to what grandfather told me. I decided to that I needed to clear my head, so what better thing to do than take a walk.
"Where are you off too, Kerai?" Grandfather asked as I reached the door.
"Just for a walk, I need to clear my mind."
"Alright, just be back before dark. Even within wall Sina, it's dangerous to be out at night." He cautioned and I went out.
From my vague memory, I walked the same path I had when I was a child. The streets of Mitras were filled with chatter of the noblemen and women. These people acted as if there never were any titans to begin with, I bet half of them haven't even heard about them. I rolled my eyes at their ignorance and continued on my merry way. After two hours of walking around I began to make my way back home. I was maybe five streets away from home, when two men started to follow me. Something about the two gave me a bad feeling, so I took a detour to try and lose them. They didn't get lost, instead they got closer. A few minutes later they were only ten feet behind me, so I took off running. Granted I could easily beat the shit out of them, it was just instinct to run. The lack of sleep from last night was starting to get to me. After a few minutes of being chased by them, I turned a sharp left corner to try and catch my breath. I carefully took a glance from around the corner and the men weren't their. My muscles relaxed and my breathing returned to normal for a few minutes.
Out of nowhere there was a man in front of me and the two men from earlier were on either side of me. I realized I was cornered, but I was still thinking of a plan to slip by and escape.
"Well, well. You two did very well, this lil' lady may be perfect." The man in front of me said in a husky rough voice.
"Thanks boss." The one to my left said with a sniveling voice.
"Are we going to test her out before we bring her to the market?" The one to my right had a deep brisk voice and was drooling.
"But of course, what would be the point in selling faulty merchandise." Their boss said and leaned in close to me.
"Hn, who the hell are you calling merchandise?" I snapped and pushed him away.
"Aye, this one's feisty." He grabbed my wrist and twisted it behind my back.
I winced at the pressure and went to knee him in the dick, he stopped me before I could by grabbing my leg. He gave a perverted smile and slid his hand up my leg towards my waist. With my free hand, I socked him in the jaw. He released my leg and punched me in the mouth. Just a few seconds later, he crushed his coarse lips to my soft ones. I began to panic and struggle harder. The other two guys helped him pin me to the wall and made sure I wouldn't be able to move. Their boss never removed his lips from mine, and they began to touch me. Once my lips were finally free I decided to call for help.
"Help, someone please!" I yelled at the top of my lungs.
"Shut up bitch, you'll enjoy this."
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{Levi's P.O.V}
Something wasn't right, it was dark and had been for a good forty five minutes now. Kerai wasn't back yet, and there was a twisting feeling in my stomach as if to tell me something was wrong. I looked over at Eyebrows and he seemed to have noticed too. I got up and grabbed my gear and cloak.
"You going somewhere, Levi?" Kohaku asked.
"Yeah, to look for Kerai." I said and left.
As soon as I was outside I launched my grappling hooks into a nearby roof and took to the skies. It wasn't too dark so I should be able to see her. Ten minutes went by and I hadn't found her yet, the feeling in my stomach was getting worse and worse. I landed on a roof to try and get my thoughts to make sense. From below right I could hear what sounded like a muffled scream of a girl. I looked over to see Kerai being attacked by three men. A rush of anger rushed over me and I took action. I jumped down, pulled the pistol I kept in my boot out and fired off three shots. Two of the shots hit the men holding her right in their necks while the third man was only brazed by the bullet but had released Kerai. Just before she hit the ground I caught her, what I saw was terrifying. Her shirt had been ripped open, her right leg shot, left upper arm brazed and bleeding, and she was bruised everywhere I was able to see. I slipped off my cloak and placed it over her and turned to the last man.
"W-where the hell did you come from, rat?" The man asked.
"Tch, from the rooftop moron. What the hell do you think you were doing to the Lance Corporal?" I growled.
"Lance Corporal? W-wait you mean to tell me that that girl is a Lance Corporal?"
"No shit. Now how to deal with trash like you." I shot him in the leg which caused him to scream and fall to the ground.
"P-please, l-let me go." He begged.
"No, I won't allow you to get away with your life you shit." With that I sent a bullet through his skull.
My anger faded and was replaced with worry, I walked back over to Kerai and picked her up in my arms. She winced at the slightest contact I made with her. It pained me to see her so scared, broken and beaten. I fully picked her up and her eyes shot open, I think she expected it to be one of the men. But when her violet eyes meet my grey eyes the softened and gave a look of relief.
"L-Levi?" She whispered.
"Shh, everything will be alright now Kerai. They can't hurt you any more."
I shot my grappling hooks into the roof and went off into the sky with Kerai in my arms. She was stiff for a few minutes then buried her head into my chest and her left hand clutched my shirt. On the way back I wasn't in as much of a hurry since I had her and she was safe. Kerai's breath was ragged but smoothing out slowly, without really thinking I lowered my head and pressed my lips to the top of her head. A few minutes later we reached the house, I brought us through the back entry and up the stairs to her room. I carefully laid her down and quickly retrieved some bandages and antibiotics from the bathroom. Bandaging her took a half hour because I was afraid to hurt her even more than she already was. But once she was cleaned and patched up I started to head out.
"W-wait Levi."
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{Kerai's P.O.V}
Levi stopped walking and turned around. "Yes, Kerai?"
I bit my inner lip, I guess there was no not saying anything. "Don't go." I whispered. "Please, I don't want to be alone tonight."
His eyes seemed to light up and a smiled played at the edges of his lips. I slid over to the left and patted the now open spot next to me for him to come and lay with me. Once he was next to me he wrapped his arm under my neck and I pulled myself close to him. I turned onto my right side, ignoring the throbbing in my leg, so that there was little to no space between us. He draped his other arm around my waist and closed the space between us. I felt safe in his arms, like nothing bad ever happened.
"Is there anywhere that's still in pain?" He asked.
Honestly, everywhere hurt. Up until then I hadn't noticed that my jaw area was throbbing from when that dickhead punched me and assaulted my lips. Maybe, just maybe...
"Y-yeah."
"Where?" He asked softly. "I may be able to make it hurt less."
"M-my lips hurt a lot and I still feel his lips on mine." I admitted.
"I could help you forget about that feeling, if you will allow me to."
I looked into his grey eyes, they were soft, kind, warm. "P-please. Help me forget." I looked my my left trying to hold back he blush from spreading.
The hand he had on my waist moved up and cupped my left cheek. I placed my hand over his and held it there. I watched his movements carefully, he moved slowly as if he was afraid to break me. There was once a two inch gap between our faces, and now his soft warm lips were on mine. He kissed me slowly and softly yet there was a ton of passion behind it. When his lips started to move, I moved mine in sync. I felt something warm, wet and slippery run across my lower lip, Levi was asking for entrance. I hesitantly let him in, when he was in his tongue carefully explored my mouth. After a few minutes we broke away for air. When we pulled away, there was a thin silvery strand of saliva connecting our mouths.
"I won't let anyone do that to you ever again. No one else can touch you. You are mine, got it?" Levi whispered in my ear.
I am his... "And you are mine." I placed my lips to his again and then buried my face in his chest.